I'm placing this in the One S forum as there are not a lot of Sense 4.0 devices out there and the One S is what I have tried this on.
HTC Sense 3.6 had both dock mode and car mode (though there was no native car mode app). Among my disappointments with HTC Sense 4.0 on the One S is no dock mode. Not just no native dock app, but no triggreable dock mode (that I have found, anyway). I've tried installing the dock mode apk from an earlier Sense, but it does not work. It does have car mode, though and a pretty (but not customizable) car mode app.
The workaround I came up with is three-part:
1. A horizontal desktop charging cradle, At bedside I use a Philips Bluetooth Speaker "Dock" (which, they basically took their iPhone dock and put a micro USB on it, but not a _dock_ micro USB - grrrr!) and I've also ordered a $7 Neewer cradle for my office.
2. A dock app - I've found Desk Clock Plus (with the added $1 customizing extension) to be the best option.
3. And here is the trick: an automation app like Automateit Pro.You can create a dual trigger to include horizontal state and phone on a charger. The triggered actions would include, of course, opening the dock app, plus you can throw in turning on WiFi and/or Bluetooth. For the horizontal state I use the accelerometer sensor and I use the "record state" option.
If you also use a car dock as I do, you'd want to add a third trigger of "dock mode = not docked." That way, your macro won't run in the car and you'll get instead the HTC car mode app. And BTW, you can also program Automateit Pro to use the car mode trigger to turn on Bluetooth (I rarely listen to local radio anymore on my car stereo), open Spotify, turn on speakerphone if a call comes in (I do not like to talk through my car stereo), etc.
Related
Hi. I don't have a dock but i keep reading questions about whether the phone will go into "dock mode" with certain docks. I assume car dock mode would mean the "car home" app launches. What launches when in desk dock mode? is there an official set of settings? is there a native app that launches which i havent noticed in my phone?
-gk
gkrawiec said:
Hi. I don't have a dock but i keep reading questions about whether the phone will go into "dock mode" with certain docks. I assume car dock mode would mean the "car home" app launches. What launches when in desk dock mode? is there an official set of settings? is there a native app that launches which i havent noticed in my phone?
-gk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a standard setting no app is launched when connecting to a car dock.
As standard "clock" app is launched if put into the official Samsung dock.
As standard no app is launched when connecting to an unofficial dock (have yet to hear about a modified unofficial being modified to launch "clock")
so thats it? a clock? Doesnt sound too exciting
I suppose i can do this with the NFC task launcher app.
thanks for the info!
-gk
gkrawiec said:
so thats it? a clock? Doesnt sound too exciting
I suppose i can do this with the NFC task launcher app.
thanks for the info!
-gk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the clock app comes with an option to quickly launch timer, music, news app and it's displaying current location + temperature (and, time ).
ahhhh, so much better!
now a serious question. Since the dock app would keep the display on all the time, and at the same time the phone would be charging. How many milliamps would be required to keep the phone fully charged?
also, same question but in a car with GPS and display on, how many milliamps would the car charger have to provide to keep the phone working and fully charged?
thanks,
-gk
After OTA upadate to sense 3.0 the Car Dock is missing in apps. It shows only in Locations, but only when you have a paid version of Locations (30 day free is over).
The problem is, when i install a another Car Dock app an i plug into the (original HTC-) car holder, only locations starts automatically and say, i should buy a paid version of navigation
when i end locations afer that and start the other Car Dock manually, the dailer does not rotate into landscape (the car holder is in landscape)
is there a way to disable autostart of locations when i plug into carholder?
Wethe Smart Dock on the S4 turns your phone into a desktop computer, it's pretty awesome, and Android has come a long way in supporting a desktop environment, but there are still many areas it needs help. this thread is all about getting the most out of your desktop machine; the Galaxy S4.
thread isn't too organized, but I'll try to update this post if other Smart Dock users are interested in a collaborative effort to get the most out their Smart Dock, with the smoothest experience possible. please share any tips or tricks you're using for your Smart Dock setup
some helpful tips I've found:
*attaching a USB keyboard turns the phone display off, and switches monitor to landscape.
*using External Keyboard Helper Pro lets you remap a few keys on the keyboard, as well as suppress on-screen keyboard. its SUPPOSED to activate automatically when docked, however doesn't work correctly.
*all Samsung apps intelligently work with a keyboard
flipping pages on the homescreen is difficult, and also any swiping/ scrolling features.. still finding a functional solution for this.
*changing dpi could probably make for a smoother expense
*also need to find a way to connect to dock with bulky case.. possible micro usb extender?
*suggested apps that work perfectly with external hardware:
Power Amp (auto plays in background even if not loaded when pressing play/pause/forward/back)
MX Video Player (all video controls)
Solid Explorer (reads flash drives/external hard drives )
FireFox (only browser I've found so far that suppresses the on-screen keyboard on its own)
*a great list by NZTechFreak that is regularly updated with compatible hardware can be found here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2252618
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Cool thread!
A few things I've learned in my time with the Smart Dock:
* Ultimate Rotation control is a good app for forcing landscape.
* Screen Standby #Root is a great app for Root users allowing the screen to be turned off while still mirroring the display, lots of cool options like ability to automatically turn on with certain apps or MHL connection etc.
* For Root users again: Paragon NTFS/HFS+ is a good app for allowing you to use NTFS drives with the Smart Dock.
* An externally powered USB hub is a good thing to have - the power output for the Dock is relatively limited and if you try to connect multiple things often times they will fail to be supplied sufficient power. A powered hub eliminates that problem, and also gives you MWOAR PORTS! Who doesn't love more ports?
* If you have troubles with sound on connecting to the TV make sure the HDMI cable is fully inserted, the port has a tight fit and it is relatively easy to not insert an HDMI cable fully. If still having problems try using a stereo sound output only (that option is greyed out in settings while you are docked, so change it while not docked if you need to).
I wish the S4 could somehow go into tablet UI when docked on the smart dock, and then open tablet versions of each supported app.
It's great that it outputs 1080p but when viewing content on a large 42" or larger HDTV, it's quite annoying to only see 4 or 5 lines of text because it's mirroring the phone's display.
delucz said:
I wish the S4 could somehow go into tablet UI when docked on the smart dock, and then open tablet versions of each supported app.
It's great that it outputs 1080p but when viewing content on a large 42" or larger HDTV, it's quite annoying to only see 4 or 5 lines of text because it's mirroring the phone's display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I agree, I think changing the Screen Density, or the DPI could be a very useful thing in this case.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Hi,
Google dropped support for it's AOSP Car Home Launcher back in 2011 and briefly broke Car Mode entirely in between Android 4.2 and 4.3 but it's still alive and kicking under the hood in Android 6+
Car Mode on a 6+ device with no additional apps installed does nothing except make your home button briefly launch a Play Services Android Auto stub. But Android Auto isn't the only choice....here are a few from the play store that are good and give you access to key functions you are likely to want whilst driving via various combinations of giant shortcuts, custom media widgets, gestures control, voice activated functions and auto reading of messages etc.
Most can utilise car mode to temporarily replace your regular launcher whilst driving using connection to a car bluetooth as a trigger or can be launched via Tasker, MacroDroid or a similar automation app.
AutoMate - just out of beta and with a very Android Auto like material UI. Free version is feature limited.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate
CarHome Ultra - being around for donkeys years but still in active development - uses the same basic style of big shortcuts as Google's old Car Home launcher but is quite polished and nicely themeable. Probably my favourite so far in limited testing. 30 day trial with the free version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome
Ultimate Car Dock - a newer take on the Car home concept and voice activation focussed. Doesn't work that well in practise in my limited testing. 7 day trail with the free version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsontoast.ultimatecardock
CarDashDroid - looks like another good one building on the Care Home concept. Not yet tested.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nezdroid.cardashdroid
DriveMode - a completely different take on a driving UI focusing on Navigation with transparent overlays for calls, music etc. Very gesture driven. Not really tested this one.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivemode.android
There are lots of others....any favourites or recommendations?
I'm more interested in this project. http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/paid-software/android-4-1-headunit-android-auto-t3125252
Bringing real android auto to my car. It works great with USB host mode, I have an old S4 that I plug my N5 in and it works fine.
Hopefully self mode will become more stable, as I can't even get it to work at this time. Then I wont need the old S4 at all.
Ive been using InDrive
6.0 car mode is very annoying. Randomly activated. Doesn't launch play stub, just breaks the home key. . If it's activating in your pocket and breaks home key, what's the point? . Moreover, a freaking phone should never ever be pressed or glanced at when driving or at a job. . Design the phone for the blind and get a device that doesn't kill and waste people's day using.
I used to have a 7 inches old tablet (with builtin battery) power plugged all the time to display my weather dashboard (webpage) 7x24. The problem is now the battery is dead and inflated till the display panel almost fall out.
Ideally I wish to have a bigger tablet without builtin battery and have power feed direct from external power source. However I can't find such device with reasonable price. Such devices are usually designed for advertisement which are very expensive.
So I am turning to Android Head Units which intended for car, but I'll use it at home instead. I'm not sure I can use it for my purpose:
1. only connect the unit with the 12v and ground cables to my 12v external source. No other connections are needed.
2. replace the builtin display launcher with say, Nova Launcher
3. install some apps from google playstore (is it available in such unit?)
4. display some android widgets or display my weather webpage in full screen mode (I usually use Dolphin browser)
6. always on.
7. wifi connection to my wifi router
What I'm aiming at is here, as an example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/EKIY-9-IPS-Android-8-0-Universal-2-Din-GPS-Navigation-Autoradio-Car-Multimedia-Player-BT/33000523715.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.99999999.268.39273c00qGParI